Electric switch



J. SLEPIAN ELECTRIC SWITCH July 10, 1934.

Filed April 27, 1929 INVENTOR Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,966,188 morale swrron Application April 27, 1929, Serial No. 358,604

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-144) My invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to circuit interrupters wherein the initial separation of the contact members takes place at a high rate of acceleration.

One object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter of the above-described type with actuating mechanism that shall first become accelerated before applying the force to separate the contact members, and which then 1 separates a pair of arc horns.

With this object in mind, my invention will best be understood by referring to the following description and drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, in elevation, of a schematic 15 arrangement of contact members and separating mechanism embodying my invention, in which the contacts are shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, in which the contacts are shown in open position.

A structure that I have employed is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises, in general, a releasable retaining mechanism 1 for retaining an actuating mechanism 2 in biased position out of engagement with a movable contact member 3 which normally bridges arcing members 4 and 5.

The actuating mechanism 2 comprises a pivotal member 6 supported on a pin 7 and a biasing mechanism 8 shown as a tension spring. The pivotal member 6 is provided with an aperture 9 and the arcing member with an aperture 11 through which the movable contact member 3 extendsto abut against the surface of the arcing member 4. A striking head 13 on the contact member 3 has a spring 14 associated therewith to bias the contact member toward its circuitclwing position.

When a solenoid 15 of the retaining mechanism 1 is energized, a roller 16 is moved from engagement with the pivotal mem- 40 her 8 to permit the spring 8 to actuate the latter into engagement with the striking head 13 and thus drive the contact member 3 from engagement with the arcing member 4 at a high rate of speed. I

It will be recognized that it maybe desirable to have the contact member 3 herein shown make a sliding engagement with contact member 4 for a certain time in its opening movement before actually breaking contact therewith, thus per- 50 mitting the contacts to acquire a certain velocity beiore separation occurs and permitting the employment of a somewhat. smaller acceleratio rate.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the arcing member 5 is extended downwardand supported upon a pivot 18. The continued movement of the member 8, after accelerating the contact member 3 permits the arcing member 5 to be moved away from its original position not far from the arcing member 4 and thereby elongates the arc which is transferred from member 3 to member 5. Suitable stops 19 and 21 are provided to limit the movement of the arcing member 5 and the pivotal member 6. a

While I have described and illustrated a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that many changes, additions, omissions, and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a circuit interrupter having a pair of spaced arcing members and a bridging member extending thereacross, and means for moving the bridging member from across said arcing members at a high rate of speed and means for thereafter separating the arcing members.

2. In combination, a circuit interrupter having a pair of spaced separable arcing members and a bridging member extending thereacross, an actuating member for moving said bridging member from across said arcing members, means for accelerating the actuating member to a high rate of speed before it engages and moves the bridging member, -and means for thereafter separating the arcing members.

3. In a circuit interrupter having a pair of spaced arcing horns, a current-carrying member bridging the horns, means accelerated before striking the current-carrying member for rapidly moving it from across the horns, and means engageable thereafter to separate the said horns a greater distance.

J OBEPH SLEPIAN. 

